Charly Boy Explains Why He Isn’t Angry Over Obasanjo Calling Him ‘Ashawo’

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Veteran entertainer Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has reacted to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s decision to describe him as an “ashawo” during the London launch of his memoir, 999.

Videos from the event circulated online showing Obasanjo playfully addressing Charly Boy with several labels, including “thief,” “barawo,” “drug addict” and “ashawo.”

Rather than expressing anger over the remarks, Charly Boy said he understood them within the context of his long-standing relationship with the former president.

In a post shared on his X account on Friday, the entertainer said Obasanjo was not necessarily suggesting that he engages in prostitution. Instead, he interpreted the remarks as part of the former president’s familiar and teasing manner towards him.

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Charly Boy noted that he had been called different names throughout his life because of his unconventional lifestyle and outspoken personality. He said people had described him as a rebel, a “mad man,” a jaga-jaga boy and even a tortoise.

According to him, having Obasanjo publicly tease him was also an indication of the closeness and affection between them.

Charly Boy further recalled that Obasanjo had previously spoken positively about aspects of his character, particularly his relationship with his late father, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, and his mother.

He said the former president’s willingness to joke about him publicly could therefore be viewed within the broader context of their relationship.

Despite accepting the playful nature of the remarks, Charly Boy made it clear that he did not agree with being called an “ashawo.”

He concluded his response by saying he would accept the title jokingly and continue with his life.

The entertainer’s reaction has generated interest online, particularly because of the unusual exchange between the veteran activist and former Nigerian leader during the memoir launch.

Slimcase Explains Why It’s Harder for Upcoming Artistes to Succeed in Nigeria

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Street artiste, Slimcase has expressed concern over the plight of up-and-coming artistes amid the rising cost of music promotion in Nigeria.

Speaking in a recent interview with Echo Room, Slimcase lamented that it costs a whopping N265 million to properly promote one song in Nigeria.

He also blamed the rise of influencer culture for the escalating cost of music promotion in Nigeria, pointing out that dancers and content creators, who used to beg artists for their attention, are now charging huge sums of money to feature their songs in their content.

The ‘Shaku Shaku’ crooner claimed that the high cost of music promotion is the reason only a few artists continue to dominate the industry for years, while talented upcoming artists remain underground.

Read Also: ‘All I Have Done Is Love’ — Etinosa Blasts Phyna Over Boxing Challenge

“Back in the days, dancers flooded artists’ DMs. Now you have to pay them big, even content creators. $200,000 is not enough to blow a song now. And that is why you hear the same artist and sound for over 20 years, while many upcoming artists remain unheard,” he lamented.

He appealed to music executives and other stakeholders to consider the plight of up-and-coming artists by addressing the high cost of music promotion.

He also urged Nigerians to support upcoming artists and not rely solely on influencers and the media to determine their playlists.

‘All I Have Done Is Love’ — Etinosa Blasts Phyna Over Boxing Challenge

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Nollywood actress, Etinosa Idemudia, has slammed Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) winner, Ijeoma Otabor, better known as Phyna, for challenging her to a boxing match.
It was reported that Phyna, after defeating Nollywood actress, Nkechi Blessing, in a celebrity boxing match held on Thursday at Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos, challenged Etinosa to a boxing match. ReadNewspapers

In response, Etinosa, in a post via Instagram, slammed Phyna for the audacity of challenging her.

Etinosa said all she has done for Phyna is love and advice, right from when she was an actor, in her story over 2 years ago

She wrote, “I can’t believe Phyna called me out. All I have ever done is love and advise her right from when she was an actor in my story over 2 years ago. I guess she saw the advice as me running around in her DM. Can you imagine?

Read Also: Ose Oyamendan: ‘We Mortgaged MKO to Complete the Film’

“I laughed over it in the ring, but it’s the audacity of me!! Edo no dey gbe Edo, but this one will be a worthy exception.”

In other news, Etinosa Idemudia, has advised women not to measure their lives by marriage or motherhood, saying they should build their self-worth and pursue their dreams without allowing society to set the pace for them.

Speaking on lessons she would pass on to her daughter with media personality Egungun, the actress said, “If I don’t teach my daughter anything, I would teach her how to respect herself, how to value herself, because a woman who respects herself can never be disrespected by anyone.”

Ose Oyamendan: ‘We Mortgaged MKO to Complete the Film’

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Former Nigerian journalist with the defunct Concord Press and filmmaker, Ose Oyamendan, has disclosed that his documentary on Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola and the June 12 struggle, MKO, cost more than $1 million to produce over almost 13 years, with part of the money still owed.

Oyamendan also revealed that the filmmakers had to mortgage the documentary to gap financiers to raise funds to complete the project.
Speaking ahead of the national premiere of the 108-minute documentary at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, Iganmu, Lagos, Oyamendan said the project demanded enormous financial resources, time and personal sacrifice.

“A lot of time — almost 13 years,” he said. “It took a lot of money, over a million dollars, a lot of it that we’re owing.”

He said the funding challenge became so severe towards the completion of the project that the filmmakers had to surrender ownership interests in the work to secure additional financing.

“We have a film we do not own because we had to mortgage it to gap financiers just to complete it,” Oyamendan said.

Minister flanked by Ose Oyamedan, producer, MKO (right) and Beifoh Osewele, deputy editor (news).
Beyond the financial burden, he said making MKO repeatedly took him away from his family as he travelled across countries and continents in search of key actors and witnesses to the events surrounding the June 12, 1993 presidential election and its aftermath.

“It takes you away from home a lot,” he said.

Oyamendan, who jokingly compared the lengthy production process to undergoing another National Youth Service, added: “It’s like doing another youth service, only much, much longer.”

The filmmaker said nearly 800 hours of interviews, archival footage and other material were eventually distilled into the 108-minute documentary.

He said the effort was driven by the need to properly document a defining period in Nigeria’s history and make the record available to future generations.

“I think it’s a great day for Nigerian history,” he said. “We are able to actually document this period, and we are able to lay a foundation for tomorrow to remember yesterday.

“And for me personally, it’s an accomplishment in the sense that we accomplished finishing the film and bringing it back home for our people to see.”

Read Also: ‘Even the Blind Knows Who the Winner Is’ — Nkechi Blessing Reacts to Loss to Phyna

Oyamendan, who worked in the Concord newspaper organisation founded by Abiola, said one of his major objectives was to ensure that his personal relationship with the subject did not compromise the documentary.

“Going into this film, my first objective was that I am going to take my biases out of it,” he said.

He added: “When you don’t tell your story, somebody will tell it for you and it’s not always rosy.

“June 12 is a significant part of our history and we must know it. You build strength from knowledge.”

MKO features interviews with several key actors in the June 12 saga, including former military leaders, political office holders, diplomats, activists, journalists and members of the Abiola family.

The October 1 national premiere was hosted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and watched by top government officials, members of the diplomatic community, leading figures from commerce and industry, media personalities and people from different walks of life.

The presidential presence added another layer of symbolism to a documentary revisiting a struggle in which Tinubu himself participated more than three decades ago.

Oyamendan said his ambition was for the documentary to travel beyond film festivals and commercial cinemas to schools and communities across the country.

“We want to take it to schools, towns, villages and anywhere where there are people,” he said.

“You’re creating something for my children and your children, laying a foundation for tomorrow to remember yesterday.”

Following its October 1 national premiere in Lagos, MKO will open in cinemas nationwide from October 2, taking the story of Abiola, the annulled June 12 election and the struggle that followed to a much wider Nigerian audience.

‘Even the Blind Knows Who the Winner Is’ — Nkechi Blessing Reacts to Loss to Phyna

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Actress Nkechi Blessing Sunday has spoken for the first time after suffering a fourth-round knockout defeat to Big Brother Naija star Phyna in a celebrity boxing match in Lagos.

The contest took place at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, during Balmoral Promotions’ Chaos in the Ring event.

The fight was scheduled to last four rounds, with the two entertainers trading punches throughout the contest. Phyna eventually landed a decisive punch in the final round, knocking Nkechi down.

The actress was unable to rise before the referee completed the count, resulting in an official knockout victory for Phyna.

After the contest, Phyna disclosed that she had deliberately taken a measured approach during the first three rounds before stepping up her attack in the final round.

She was later rewarded with a new car and a ceremonial ₦50 million cheque.

Read Also: ‘Our Marriage Is Not Up to Four Months, You’ll Sleep in Prison’ — Jarvis Threatens Legal Action Against Pelle

Nkechi, however, appeared unfazed by the official result in her reaction posted on Instagram.

Describing herself as a champion, she suggested that viewers who followed the fight closely would have their own interpretation of who performed better.

“Still a CHAMPION regardless of the result… even the blind knows who the winner is,” the actress wrote.

She also disclosed that she had only trained for two days ahead of the bout, while praising her coach for the preparation and support.

Nkechi concluded by indicating that she would return her attention to acting, saying she was not a professional boxer.

The celebrity contest attracted considerable attention as part of the wider Chaos in the Ring programme, which brought entertainment personalities into the boxing ring.

‘Our Marriage Is Not Up to Four Months, You’ll Sleep in Prison’ — Jarvis Threatens Legal Action Against Pelle

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Nigerian social media personality Jarvis has threatened to take legal action against her husband, Peller, following an alleged disagreement over his reported plan to marry another woman.

Jarvis made the disclosure in a video shared on her Snapchat page, where she expressed frustration over the issue and questioned why the matter had surfaced only a few months after their marriage.

According to Jarvis, Peller had previously told her that he was Muslim and that any woman he intended to marry as a second wife would also be Muslim.

She said the current situation was different from what she understood before agreeing to the marriage, adding that she did not expect discussions about another wife to arise so soon after their wedding.

Read Also: Phyna Defeats Nkechi Blessing as Carter Efe Beats Speed Darlington in Boxing Bouts

During the exchange, Jarvis repeatedly threatened to sue Peller, insisting that he should keep to the understanding she said they had before getting married.

“I will sue Peller. This is not what you promised,” she said.

Jarvis also stated that she had a Muslim background and questioned the circumstances surrounding Peller’s position on marriage and religion.

The social media personality expressed anger during the confrontation, making several statements about what she believed her marital rights and expectations should be.

The dispute has attracted attention online, with social media users reacting to the couple’s disagreement.

Jarvis’s comments represent her account of the disagreement, while Peller’s response to the allegations was not included in the video referenced.

The development comes only months after the couple’s marriage, making the alleged disagreement a subject of discussion among their followers.

Phyna Defeats Nkechi Blessing as Carter Efe Beats Speed Darlington in Boxing Bouts

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Reality TV star Josephina “Phyna” Otabor and skit maker Carter Efe emerged victorious in their respective celebrity boxing contests at Balmoral Promotions’ Chaos in the Ring event in Lagos.

The event, held on October 1, 2026, at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, featured a combination of celebrity crossover fights and professional boxing contests.

Phyna made history by defeating Nollywood actress Nkechi Blessing in Nigeria’s first female celebrity boxing bout. The former Big Brother Naija winner stopped Nkechi Blessing by knockout during their scheduled four-round contest.

Following her victory, Phyna said she was interested in taking on Nollywood actress Etinosa Idemudia next. She alleged that Etinosa had repeatedly contacted her through direct messages and said she was ready for another challenge.

Read Also: Sexy Steel Claims He Owned ‘Dami Duro’ Beat, Davido Reveals What Happened

Etinosa, who watched the contest from ringside, accepted the challenge, saying she was prepared to represent Edo State and would not back down from the proposed fight.

Phyna also received ₦50 million for winning the historic contest and indicated that she could pursue boxing professionally following her victory.

Carter Efe also recorded a victory, defeating musician Speed Darlington in their four-round celebrity contest. Efe dominated the fight before securing a technical knockout after Speed Darlington stopped moving.

The victory extended Carter Efe’s unbeaten record in the Chaos in the Ring celebrity boxing series. He previously defeated Portable in May 2026 by unanimous decision.

In the professional main event, Ghanaian boxer Seth “Freezy Macbones” Gyimah defeated Nigerian champion Godday “Zodsolo” Appah by unanimous decision to claim the WBO African Light Heavyweight Continental Championship.

The event featured several high-profile entertainment and boxing personalities and was broadcast live on SuperSport and DAZN, with Bet9ja powering the card.

Sexy Steel Claims He Owned ‘Dami Duro’ Beat, Davido Reveals What Happened

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Nigerian artiste Sexy Steel has sparked fresh discussion about Davido’s early hit “Dami Duro” after claiming that he owned the beat used for the song.

In a video, Sexy Steel spoke about the instrumental’s origins, suggesting that the beat was originally meant for him.

Davido has previously provided an account of how the instrumental came into existence. During an interview for an Afrobeat documentary, he said he initially created the foundation of the beat for Sexy Steel.

The singer recalled that the instrumental was produced in his Lagos studio in 2011. Producer Shizzy later contributed to the track by adding keys and other production elements.

Read Also: Uzee Usman Makes History as First Nigerian Actor to Teach at Toronto Film School

Davido said he eventually saw considerable potential in the beat and chose to use it for his own song.

The instrumental subsequently became the basis of “Dami Duro,” which emerged as a major hit and helped propel Davido into the Nigerian mainstream music scene.

While Sexy Steel has focused on the ownership and original purpose of the beat, Davido’s account recognises that it was first developed for Sexy Steel.

The development highlights the collaborative and evolving nature of music production, where an instrumental can undergo significant changes before reaching its final form.

“Dami Duro” ultimately became an important record in Davido’s early catalogue and remains associated with his emergence as a leading Afrobeats artiste.

Uzee Usman Makes History as First Nigerian Actor to Teach at Toronto Film School

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What happens when a Nigerian filmmaker known for telling homegrown stories finds himself standing before an international audience of aspiring filmmakers?

For Uzee Usman, the answer may signal the beginning of something much bigger as he becomes the first Nigerian actor to lecture international film students at the Toronto Film School.

The actor, producer and filmmaker recently took his experience beyond the Nollywood set to Toronto Film School, where he was invited to speak to film students from around the world about filmmaking, storytelling and his journey in the Nigerian film industry.

It was more than a lecture. It was an opportunity to present the Nigerian filmmaking experience from the perspective of someone who has produced more than 40 films and continues to push stories rooted in reality.

“I love telling realistic stories,” Usman told the students, stressing the importance of authenticity and stories that audiences can recognise and connect with.

Read Also: Adekunle Gold Recalls Sickle Cell Crisis: ‘They Had to Put Me in a Wheelchair’

But there was another message behind his appearance: Nollywood does not have to remain isolated from the rest of the world.

Usman spoke about his desire to bridge the gap between Nollywood and Hollywood, creating room for knowledge exchange, creative partnerships and productions that bring filmmakers from both industries together.

His international visibility has also grown following his lead performance as Scourge in Netflix’s The Covenant, with the much-anticipated second season expected in November.

Yet Usman’s ambitions appear to go beyond personal recognition. For years, he has used filmmaking to explore Nigerian realities while advocating for peace and understanding, particularly in Northern Nigeria and across the country.

“Peace can be advocated through storytelling. When people understand each other’s stories, they begin to understand each other.”

That philosophy is now meeting a global audience. His Toronto Film School invitation, coupled with his visibility at the recently concluded Toronto International Film Festival, has drawn renewed attention to a filmmaker whose career is increasingly moving between local storytelling and international cinema.

And perhaps the most interesting question is no longer where Uzee Usman has come from. It is where the next story will take him.

With international audiences watching, The Covenant, continuing its journey and the prospect of future Nollywood-Hollywood collaborations, Usman appears ready to turn his experience into something larger than a film career, a platform for Nigerian stories, global collaboration and the belief that cinema can bring people closer together.

Adekunle Gold Recalls Sickle Cell Crisis: ‘They Had to Put Me in a Wheelchair’

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Afrobeats singer Adekunle Kosoko, popularly known as Adekunle Gold, has opened up on a severe sickle cell crisis he experienced while travelling to Tanzania.
It was reported that the singer, who has publicly spoken about living with sickle cell disease, said the health crisis began during a flight with a stopover in Ethiopia. News

Adekunle Gold in an interview on Afropolitan Podcast explained that he initially experienced severe stomach pain and cramps while on the plane.

At first, he believed the discomfort could have been caused by food he had eaten at the airport before boarding the flight.

However, the pain continued to worsen despite his initial assumption that it was related to something he had eaten.

The singer said his condition became so serious that the situation on the flight became worrying as the aircraft approached Ethiopia.

He eventually needed medical attention immediately after landing.

He said: “The last major crisis that I had. This is not the one I talked about when I was 20. The last major crisis I had happened on a plane.

“I was going to Tanzania. And I was supposed to lay over in Ethiopia. I just noticed that I started feeling pain in my stomach. I was cramping. I thought it was maybe some meal that I had at the airport. I was like, ‘I shouldn’t have eaten that.’

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“I was beating myself up about that, but it kept going. I went to the toilet nothing came out. They almost landed the plane because of me, because it was really bad.

“Thankfully, we were closer to landing in Ethiopia. I could not even walk. For the first time in my life, they had to put me in a wheelchair, and they took me to the hospital. And the doctor told me that I had a crisis.

“The only crisis I have known in my life is in my stomach. That was the first time I ever heard about that.

“The doctor now told me that when I am on the plane, I should make sure I drink a lot of water. And that my oxygen level was low because I did not drink a lot of water that day.

“I said, ‘Wow!’ They almost landed the plane because of me because it was really bad.

“I feel like I live on the plane, I’m on the plane 24/7 and if you know anyone living with sickle cell, you will know it is about oxygen, oxygen level and when you are up there, it is crazy.”